Device fob swimming-belt



Feb. 23 ,---1926. 1,514,221

J. M. WELCH DEVICE FOR SWIMMING BELT CONTRUCTION Filed/A ril 192 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 )4 Term m. wamfl, awards '1 Feb. 23,1926. 2 1,574,221

J. M. WELCH I N DEVICE FOR SWIMMING BELT CONSTRUCTION Filed April 21, 192 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 30 N M. WELCH I gwue'ntoz I awd Patented Feb. 23, 1923.-

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nnvron non SWIMMING-BELT "consrnnc'rroivg Application filed April 21", 192a seriai m. res-n72;

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, JOHN'IW. citizen of the flouston, new and awn, a

Texas, have invented a certain so shaped and formed as to maintain its shape conforming to the waist line of the fiat outer face the wearer Wlilwearer and presenting a whereby the movementsof be un ncumbered.

of the belt by longitudinal partitiens and the employment of devices whereby sald' partitions may be readily inserted and secured in position.

Referring to the drawings herewith forming a part of the specification, Fig. I is a perspective view of the 'type of belt to be constructed. Fig. 52/ is a transverse section through the belt'whenit is inflated. Fig 3 is a-top plan of the form employed for inserting the walls or partitions. 4 is broken sectional View on'line l't of Fig. 8. Fig. beltdeflated. Fig. 6 is atop plan view of the enclosingcase employed in curing the belt. Fig. 7 isjan end'perspectiv view of the form and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the locking block and Figs. 9 and 10 are similar views of the opposite end of the form and locking means. e

This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application No. 666,082, liledOctober 2, 1928;- 9

My beltconsists r a flattened tube of fabric, impregnated with rubber or similar material impervious to air orwatein] There are two flattened lengths of the said rubberized fabric, having the edges overlapping at the sides and cemented together to form one continuous tube. It is important to United States, residing at usei'ul Improvement in Devicesforv Swnnming-BeltConstructlon, of which the.

to provide a durable pneu- 1 cheaply and easily. Itis alse desired to construct a belt 5 is a transverse section showing the fabric cut on-- stuck to a rubberly thereof so that it lining orwhen 'imfreg nated with rubber, is stretched longl'tu 1 Wlll-l10lfiWrl11kl 6 when 1 form the inner section-I of the belt of the bias.

This fabricywhen nairolled orsecuredto the waist o li the wearer.

Theouter section 2 is rubberized fabric and the inturned edges of of a straight strip of is best secured over the inner sectlon 1, as

shown-in Figs. 2 -and"5.' The overlapping edges are cemented firmly together i When thus. formed, the inner section 1 Willowterm to the shape of the wearersw aistand will be entirely free when thus 1nuse and into; neat package" wrinklesor folds to of wrinkles on folds may also be rolled up Without causing appear. -Grack-ii-n g ofthe pncun'iatic tube will be thus prevented- I and the belt willlast for-long'perioda The The invention involves the strengtl iening outer section- 2 will be; approximately fiat and will be held thus by partitions in the belt which will be presentlydescribedu in order-to prevent rounded out as,

would the tube from being a vehicle are when it is inflatechl have formed two partitions 3,

connected at their ed and outer sides 1 and gas at a: to the inner 2 of the belt. Theselongitudinal partitions tl'iusviormed serve tohold the opposite sides of; thea b'elt-froin being bowed out wh tend to hold the beltas shown in Fig; 2.]

thus formed is closed so that there may be The opposite end is yond the ends 01' the; longitudinal partitions 3, except for a small thereof; in which is ti by means of which into the belt. The a the endof tlie any of" the three chin will serve to inflate each uniformly. The end opening 5 atones-ids glitly cemented a tube air may b'e-introduced ir thus introduced at belt may find an entrance to the belt nbers ofthe belt and portion of the belt or the inflating tube 6 maybe-provided with a valve 7, allowing air to be forced intothe belt, but preventing This tube may preferably be formed ofsuiiicient length to make its outlet therefrom.

it possible for the wearer to easily inflate it when it is buckled o n, and under ordinary I conditions sufficient air may be blown into form to recelve the the belt by the wearer an air pump. V

The belt may be secured together by any preferred adjustable means, and I have shown straps 11 having buttons 12 thereon to be secured in button holes 9 in any of the plurality of flaps 8. Said straps engage with buckles 10 on the adjacent end of the belt in the usual way.

In constructing this belt, it is necessary to insert between the inner and outer walls 1 and 2 the partition 3. This is done by use of the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4:. The form comprises a plurality of strips of light wood or composition adapted to in-' teriit so as to receive the partitions of the belt. The side pieces 1 1 are rounded at the outer sides on the upper face to conform to the shape of. the belt, and have their other sides cut with a mortice. or groove 15, preferably V-shaped. The inner strip 16 has its side out to, a tongue or tenon 17 to lit the mortices in the adjacent side pieces. The strips are of the proper length to accommodate the belt desired and will varyin dimensions according to the length of the belt.

The longitudinal sections are held together when desired by retaining plates 19 and 20. The end 21 of the core or form is rounded off slightly so that it may be inserted into or withdrawn from the belt. This end has a notch or recess 22 out in the assembled plate 19. Holes 23 are formed in each of the strips 1 1 and 16 to receive pins 23 on the plate 19 so as to prevent relative movement and expansion of the form. The plate on the opposite end may be made of metal having pins 2 1 to fit in openings in the strips to hold, them assembled as shown.

The form thus constructed is adapted to include strips of fabric 18 which are preferably cut on the bias to allow them to stretch and conform to the form of the belt when it is secured around the waist of the wearer. These fabric strips are fitted over the edges of the central strip 16 of the form, as shown in Fig. 4, with the edges of the fabric projecting equally on both sides. When the strips of fabric are set in place the form is locked bymeans of the end plate. The pro jecting edges of rubberized fabric which may be of raw or uncured rubber are then pressed together to cause themto adhere. The walls may be constructed of separate layers of rubber and fabric adhering together or of one sheet of rubberized fabric.

The inner wall 1 of rubberized bias fabric is first laid down. The form having thereon the strips forming the walls 3 is then placed on the inner wall 1, the edges of the wall being brought around the form and sealed to the outer wall 2. The walls having without the use of uncured rubber will readily adhere when pressed firmly together. The edges of the belt at one end are closed and sealed. The form with the belt thereon is then heattreated to cure the rubber in the proper shape.

To protect and compress the belt tightly on the form when treated, I may employ an enclosing casing or shell 25, shown particularly in Fig. 6. It is preferably made up of two, cooperating hinged sections of sheet metal shaped to closely enclose the form and belt. These sections are hinged at one side of the form at 26 and have latches of any preferred construction 27 upon the opposite side. The end of the form is allowed to project slightly from the casing, as shown in Fig. 6. The belt is then subjected to heat and pressure to cure the rubber, after which the form is withdrawn from the open end of the belt. The central piece 16 is customarily withdrawn first, thus releasing the other strips. The partitions 3 are in folded shape as shown in Fig. 5, but may be easily expanded as the air is blown in. The tube 6 is inserted and the open end of the belt cemented. When this is done the belt is complete. possible to easily and quickly construct the belt in the desired shape with the parts in proper position.

hat I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for placing longitudinal walls in a pneumatic life belt tube comprising a central section of approximately rigid material having a tongue on each side extending longitudinally thereof, and two side sections having a groove on one side thereof to loosely receive said tongues, said grooves being adapted to receive a strip of flexible material fitting over each said tongue when said tongues are in said grooves, said flexible strip having exposed edges for cementing.

2. A device for placing longitudinal walls in a pneumatic belt tube, comprising a central section of approximately rigid material having its longitudinal sides formed into tongues, side sections having grooves shaped to receive said tongues, said side sections being rounded on their upperouter sides to conform to the shape of the belt.

3. A device for placing longitudinal walls of flexible material in forming pneumatic life belts, comprising a plane central section with longitudinal tongues, and two side sections having grooves adjacent the central section to receive said tongues loosely, said sections being shaped, when assembled, to conform to the shape of the belt.

4.. A device for placing longitudinal walls of flexible material in forming pneumatic life belts comprising a plane central section with the lateral edges beveled equally on both sides to form tongues, and side sections The form thus provided makes 1t tongu 5. I11 a device of the characterdescribed, a toxin comprising flat longitudinal sections adapt groov edges ed to lie side by side, a tongue and e connectlon between the ad acent of said sections, sald connection being a loose one to include therein strips of flexible material, and means at the ends thereof to hold said sections together. In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix 1n signature this 18th day of April, A. D. 1924.

JOHN M. WELSH, 

